US20070012215A1

US20070012215A1 - Automobile turntable

Info

Publication number: US20070012215A1
Application number: US10/946,683
Authority: US
Inventors: Dave Miner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-22
Filing date: 2004-09-22
Publication date: 2007-01-18

Abstract

A turntable assembly displays an object such as an automobile by rotating 360 degrees continuously. The auto spin assembly includes a frame assembly, wheel cradles, a base assembly and a motor, all of which are detachably connected so that the auto spin assembly can be assembled and disassembled quickly and easily. The assembly can be dissembled to be stored in a relatively small area. The frame and wheel cradle assembly can be modified so that differently sized automobiles can be displayed.

Description

BACKGROUND

In today's market place, there exists a need to display objects and see the entire object from one vantage point. One object that is always in need of display is the automobile. Today's auto showrooms are filled with automobiles that require display. Auto shows for antique, classic and muscle cars are another need to display automobiles. One persistent problem that arises with the display of these automobiles is providing a display that does not visually interfere with the display of the automobile. This problem is compounded with large weight and size of the automobile. If these were not enough problems, additional problems exist in that automobiles vary in size, weight and how that weight is distributed. Additionally, there is a need for a display that is portable so that the display can quickly move from location to location and stored with a small volume of space. As a consequence, there is a need for a display that can be stored in a small space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An assembly to display an automobile and to continuously rotate it 360 degrees includes a frame assembly to support the automobile, a slider assembly to change the dimensions of the frame and to balance and to support the automobile, and a base assembly to support the frame assembly. The base assembly, the slider assembly and the frame assembly are detachably connected. These assemblies can be detached, transported readily and reattached quickly and easily stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a illustrates a top view of the present invention.
FIG. 1 b illustrates a side view of the present invention.
FIG. 1 c illustrates an end view of a main frame rail.
FIG. 1 d illustrates an end view of a wheel tube
FIG. 2 illustrates top view of the wheel slider.
FIG. 3 a illustrates a side view of the wheel slider.
FIG. 3 b illustrates an end view of the wheel slider.
FIG. 4 illustrates a wheel tube and wheel cradle.
FIG. 5 illustrates an end view of the wheel cradle.
FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of the main frame and drive assembly.
FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the motor and drive assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows the support components of the auto spin assembly 90 for the display, 360 degree rotation, and for support of an object such as an automobile, tractor or the like. While the invention shall be described in terms of the automobile, one of skill in the art would understand that the principles described herein below are applicable to other types of objects to be displayed.
FIG. 1 shows a frame assembly that includes a main frame rails 100,102, main frame end 124 and main frame center rails 110,112 and main frame center plate 714. The main frame rail 100 is positioned approximately parallel to main frame rail 102 for support of the automobile to be displayed. A main frame end 124 is secured to one end of the main frame rail 100 and the main frame rail 102 and provides support for the automobile. FIG. 1 shows a slider frame assembly which provides for the dimensions of the frame assembly to easily change and which includes the slide frame rails 104,106, slide frame end 160, and slider tube 162. The inboard ends of main frame rail 100 and main frame rail 102 are slidely mounted to slide frame rail 104 and slide frame rail 106 respectively. Main frame rail 100 may be formed around a hollowed rectangle 101 or a cylinder such as shown in FIG. 1 c, and the slide frame rail 104 is shaped and dimensioned to slide within the hollowed rectangle 101. Slide frame rail 104 and slide frame rail 106, together may be extended from main frame rail 100 and main frame rail 102, to accommodate longer automobiles or may be retracted into main frame rail 100 and main frame rail 102 to accommodate shorter automobiles. By extending or retracting, slide frame rail 104 and slide frame rail 106, the length or dimension of the auto spin assembly can be changed to match the length and balance of the automobile and providing an automobile support that does not detract from appearance of the object. Once the slide frame rail 104 is positioned with respect to main frame rail 100, set screw 126 is tightened to clamp slide frame rail 104 to main frame rail 100 to form a detachable connection between the slider frame rail 104 and the main frame rail 100. The use of set screws 126,128,140,142,202,204,206 provides for quick assembly and disassembly. Main frame rail 102 and slide frame rail 106 and set screw 128 are similarly constructed. Slide frame end 160 is secured to the other end of slide frame rail 104 and slide frame rail 106 and support the automobile.
FIG. 1 as discussed above shows a slider assembly that includes slide frame rails 104,106, slider frame end 160 and slider tube 132. Slide frame rails 104,106 are detachably connected to main frame rails 100,102. Slider frame 134 moves longitudinally along main frame rails 100,102, and once the desired position of slider frame 134 is reached with respect to the main frame rails 100,102, set screw 206 secures slider frame 134 to main frame rail 102 to change the dimensions of the auto spin assembly. While set screws have been disclosed, other type of fasteners are within the scope of the invention and other shaped elements are additionally within the scope of the invention.
FIG. 3 a shows slider frame 134 secured to slider tube 302, and slider frame 134 includes slider frame opening 135 to accept main frame rails 100,102. FIG. 3 b shows slider frame 134. slider tube 302 and set screw 206.
FIG. 1 shows wheel cradles 120,122,136,138 which are detachably connected to the frame assembly. Wheel cradles 120,122 are positioned along and in spaced relationship to main frame rails 100,102, and wheel cradles 136,138 are positioned at the end and in spaced relationship to slider frame rails 104,106. Each of the wheel cradles is for placement of the wheels of the automobile. Ramps (not shown) can be provided for the wheels of the auto to place in the wheel cradles. Since wheels of different sized automobiles are positioned differently, for example longer autos have a longer wheel base; it is desirable to change the position of the wheel cradles. Since wheel cradles 136, 138 are connected to slider end frame 160, wheel cradles 136,138 moves traverse with respect to slide frame rails 104,106. This provides for changing the width of the auto spin assembly, allowing for a change in an additional dimension of the auto spin assembly. Wheel cradles 120,122 move independently and longitudinally along the main frame rails 100,102 by virtue of slider frame 134.
Wheel cradles 120,122 are secured to one end of wheel tubes 116 as illustrated in FIG. 2 and 4.The other ends of wheel tube 116 are positioned in slider tube 302. This structure provides that wheel cradles 120,122 can be retracted or extended by retracting or extending wheel tube 116 along the slider tube 302. This also provides for a change in the dimension of the auto spin assembly by changing the width. Once the desired position of wheel cradles 120,122 is reached, set screws 202,204 are tightened to secure wheel tube 116 in slider tube 302 to detachably connect wheel tube 116 to slider tube 302.
Each wheel cradle 120,122,136 138 can be independently positioned in their respective slider tube as described above.
Ramps (not shown) are positioned along the main frame rails 100,102 for the automobile to be placed in the wheel cradles 120,122,136 138. Dolly wheels are secured to an end of main frame rails 100,102 to provide for mobility of the auto spin assembly 90 when the main frame assembly is detached from the base assembly.
FIG. 1 additionally shows a base assembly which includes the base center 158, the base ring 146, the base strut 148 and a drive motor to provide for the auto spin assembly 90 to rotate the automobile, and the base assembly is detachable connected to the frame assembly by virtue of base bearing top 716 which is connected to main frame center plate 714 by frame to base attaching bolts 710. The base assembly includes base ring 146 to support the auto spin assembly 90 and mounted on the base ring 146 are dolly wheels 150,152. These dolly wheels 150.152 provide for mobility of the base assembly when disassembled from the frame assembly and slider assembly. Lifting up an end of the base assembly puts the wheels in contact with the ground thereby allowing ‘wheel barrow’ type mobility.
The base center 158 is connected to the base ring 146 by a series of eight base struts 148 (other number of base struts could be used). The weight of the auto spin assembly is transferred from the base center 158 to the base ring 146 by the base struts 148. The base struts 148 provides for a lighter design. Secured to the base struts 148 are lift handles 144. These lift handles 144 allow the base assembly to be easily moved after auto spin assembly 90 has been disassembled.
FIG. 5 shows the details of the wheel tube 118 and wheel cradle 122.
FIG. 6 shows main frame center rail 110 in a spaced relationship and approximately parallel relationship with the main frame center rail 112. Both the main frame center rails 110, 112 are secured between the main frame rail 100 and main frame rail 102 and main frame center rails 110, 112 are secured to the main frame center plate 714.
FIG. 7 shows a motor drive assembly 701 to turn the auto spin assembly . . . The motor drive assembly 701 can turn the auto at constant speeds or at variable speeds which can be programmed by a user. The motor drive assembly 701 includes drive sprocket 708, a driven sprocket 704, and a drive chain 702 which connects the drive sprocket 708 with the driven sprocket 704. The driven sprocket 704 is secured to the free end of center bearing 706. The drive sprocket 708 is rotated by the gearbox 604 which is driven by the motor 602; the gearbox 604 can drive the drive sprocket 708 at a variable speed by changing the speed of the motor 602. Speed control 720 controls the speed of the motor 602 and is programmed by the user. The motor rotates the automobile a continuously 360 degrees and will stop the rotation if an obstacle is hit or otherwise detected. An overload clutch 718 protects the gearbox from damage.
The motor drive assembly 701 is not necessarily detached from the base assembly for disassembly of the auto spin assembly. This avoids the alignment problem of the motor with the driven sprocket 704 which allows for faster set up times.

Claims

1. A portable assembly to display an automobile, comprising:

a frame assembly to support said automobile, said frame assembly having at least one detachable wheel to move said frame assembly,

a slider assembly to change a dimension of said frame assembly,

a base assembly to support said frame assembly and said slider assembly,

said base assembly, said base assembly having at least one wheel to move said base assembly, and said frame assembly being detachably connected.

2. A portable assembly to display an automobile as in claim 1, further comprising a wheel cradle, said wheel cradle being detachably connected to frame assembly.

3. A portable assembly to display an automobile as in claim 2, wherein said wheel cradle changes said dimension.

4. A portable assembly to display an automobile as in claim 2, wherein said frame assembly is extendable by said slider assembly.

5. A portable assembly to display an automobile as in claim 2, wherein said motor drive assembly includes a motor to turn said frame assembly.

6. A portable assembly to display an automobile as in claim 2, wherein said motor turns said frame assembly at a variable speed and said variable speed is controlled by a user.

7. A portable assembly to display an automobile as in claim 2, wherein said motor turns said frame assembly and stops when the frame assembly hits an obstacle.

8. A portable assembly to display an automobile, comprising:

a motor to turn said frame assembly at a variable speed,

a base assembly to support said frame assembly and said motor, said base assembly having at least one wheel to move said base assembly.

9. A portable assembly to display an automobile as in claim 8, further comprising a wheel cradle, said base assembly, said motor and said frame assembly being detachably connected, said wheel cradle being detachably connected to assembly.

10. A portable assembly to display an automobile as in claim 8, wherein said wheel cradle is extendable.

11. A portable assembly to display an automobile as in claim 8, wherein said frame assembly is extendable.

12. A portable assembly to display an automobile as in claim 8, wherein said motor turns said frame assembly.

13. A portable assembly to display a automobile as in claim 8, wherein said motor turns said frame assembly at a variable speed and said variable speed is controlled by a user.

14. A portable assembly to display a automobile as in claim 8, wherein said motor turns said frame assembly and stops when the frame assembly hits a obstacle.

15. A portable assembly to display a automobile as in claim 8, wherein said motor turns said frame assembly at a constant speed.